Colorado Aurora, Frisco’s Record Sale & Are Builders Overbuilding? | Ski Summit Show Episode 138

Every once in a while the mountains remind you just how small you really are.


Recently, Summit County lit up under a surprise show from the northern lights. If you’ve seen the photos and videos, you know what I’m talking about—ribbons of red and green stretching over our familiar peaks. I’ve only seen the aurora here once before, and this time was even better.

From Breckenridge to Frisco, neighbors were stepping outside in their pajamas, sending group texts, and trying to capture the moment on their phones. The pictures looked almost unreal, but even in person it was one of those “pinch-me” nights that make mountain living special.

These are the kinds of experiences you can’t manufacture with staging or marketing. When you own here, it’s not just about square footage and finishes—it’s about stepping onto your deck and watching the sky catch fire.

Record-Setting Luxury: Frisco’s Most Expensive Sale Ever

On the real estate side, Frisco just made headlines with the most expensive home sale in the town’s history: a stunning property on County Road 1040 that closed at $6,564,450.

This 6,100+ square foot home offered:

• Six bedrooms and six baths
• A high-end, immaculate finish throughout
• A private, tucked-away setting with big mountain views
  
  

What’s interesting isn’t just the price tag—it’s where this is happening. Frisco started as a rough-and-tumble mining town in the late 1800s, with railroads, saloons, and just a few hundred permanent residents. When mining faded after World War I, the town nearly emptied out before reinventing itself around skiing and tourism.

Today, Frisco is ringed by four major ski resorts—Breckenridge, Keystone, Copper Mountain, and Arapahoe Basin—and proudly calls itself the “Main Street of the Rockies.” Historic buildings are still preserved through the Frisco Historic Park & Museum, but the buyer demand has clearly shifted toward modern, high-end living in a true four-season mountain town.

A record sale like this tells us a few key things:

• Luxury buyers see long-term value in Frisco, not just Breckenridge.
• Well-located, best-in-class homes are still commanding premium prices.
• The market for unique, one-of-a-kind properties remains very strong, even in a higher-rate environment.
  
  

If you own in Frisco, this is an encouraging data point. If you’re shopping, it’s a reminder that waiting for “the perfect time” may mean watching that perfect property go to someone else.

Are Builders Overbuilding Again? Let’s Look at the Facts.

You’ve probably seen the headlines: “Are builders overbuilding again?” It’s a fair question—especially if you lived through the last housing cycle.

Nationally, recent data on single-family building permits actually shows the opposite of runaway construction. Permits have declined for several months in a row, and builders are being more cautious instead of racing ahead. That matters, because new construction is a big part of balancing inventory.

Zooming in on Summit County, the numbers tell a clear story:

• 2023 was a spike year with 545 new units permitted.
• 2024 dropped to 258—about half of 2023 and below the 2020s average of around 386 units.
• Long term, the peak was back in 1996 with about 1,270 units during a big 90s building wave.
  
  

So no, we’re not seeing a flood of speculative building like before the Great Financial Crisis. If anything, builders are under-supplying the market, especially when it comes to true workforce or local-friendly housing.

Here in the high country, the cost to build is already extremely high—materials, labor, snow loads, energy-efficient codes, and strict engineering standards all drive up the price. That means most new construction naturally skews toward the upper end of the market where margins make sense.

What this means for you:

• If you’re a buyer, don’t count on a wave of cheap new builds pushing prices down. That’s not what the data shows.
• If you’re an owner, this measured pace of building helps protect long-term values and keeps us away from a boom-and-bust scenario.
• If you’re thinking about developing or remodeling, there is still strong demand for well-designed homes that fit how people actually live, work, and play in the mountains.
  
  

Listing of the Week: 205 Aspen Drive, Frisco

Now let’s talk about a home that grabbed my attention: 205 Aspen Drive in Frisco.

This place is a bit of a unicorn—and I mean that in the best way. It’s a large, character-filled home on a flat lot in a quiet neighborhood, close to everything that makes Frisco so special.

Here’s what stands out:

• Big 1970s architecture with a mansard-style roof and tons of personality
  
  
• Updated mechanicals like a newer furnace and boiler
  
  
• Newer flooring and solid bones that give you a great starting point
  
  
• An oversized flex space that used to be a taxidermy room, but could become an incredible primary suite or bonus room
  
  
• A separate, lower-level apartment with its own entrance and kitchen—perfect for a longer-term tenant
  
  

What really gets my wheels turning is the value per square foot. For this location, the price per square foot is roughly half of what other nearby homes are trading for. With some thoughtful updates and vision, someone is going to unlock a ton of upside here.

If you like:

• Walkability to Main Street
• Easy access to I-70, Breckenridge, and surrounding resorts
• A home that can help offset your costs with rental income

…205 Aspen Drive is worth a serious look.

Final Thoughts

From auroras over Summit County to record luxury sales and cautious building trends, the big picture is this: our mountain market remains desirable, resilient, and shaped by long-term demand—not short-term hype.

If you’re curious how these trends line up with your specific goals—buying, selling, investing, or just planning a future move up here—I’m always happy to talk through it with you.

Reach out any time, and we’ll walk through your options together.

See you in the mountains soon…